Placket and collar stabilization

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the stabilization of a shirt or blouse placket and/or shirt collar when the shirt is worn without a tie, without upper fastening means near the wearer&#39;s neck or collar region, or and with the upper fastening means near the wearer&#39;s neck or collar region, such as one or more buttons, unfastened.

This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/896,695 filed on Sep. 6, 2019 which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shirts that employ a design andstructure allowing stabilization of the shirt's placket and collar. Thestabilization design and structure of the shirt collar can be employedin any type of shirt such as a dress shirt, blouse, polo shirt, andactive/athletic wear. The stabilization design and structure isparticularly useful for dress shirts and blouses, especially when wornwithout a tie and with the upper fastening means near the wearer's neckand collar region unfastened and in particular under a coat or jacket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Over the year, men's suit and shirt styling has become more casual. Thiscasual apparel trend has resulted in the upper fastening means near thewearer's neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttonsof a shirt, remaining unfastened and a reduction in the wearing of tieswhich is associated with the top buttons remaining unfastened. Without atie and/or the fastening of all the top buttons of a shirt, the sharplines normally created by a shirt collar and shirt placket may becometwisted or broken leading to a rumpled or unkempt appearance. Moreover,if an additional outer garment such as a coat, suit coat, sport jacketor sweater is worn with a shirt without a tie or with the upperfastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region, such as one ormore of the top buttons of the shirt, unfastened, the collar and/orplacket may be drawn or trapped under the outer garment due to normalmovements of the wearer leading again to the shirt collar and shirtplacket becoming twisted or broken and an unsightly appearance for thewearer.

Attempts to overcome the twisted or broken collar and placket appearancewhen a shirt is worn without a tie or with the upper fastening meansnear the wearer's neck or collar region, such as one or more of the topbuttons of the shirt unfastened have been proposed in the art. Forexample, Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007092208;2009024266 and 2018188778 describe reinforcing inserts that may beplaced into a shirt placket and/or collar region to prevent thetwisting. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,204,671 and 9,622,512 describereinforcing inserts, i.e., stiffeners and stays that may be incorporatedinto a shirt placket and/or collar. See alsohttps://milliondollarcollar.com. The reinforcing structures described inthese prior art references are typically made of rigid flat or planarplastic material that is incorporated into the shirt by the wearer.These rigid planar plastic inserts may be permanently incorporated intothe shirt such as by sewing or it may be removably incorporated into theshirt such as by insertion of the rigid planar plastic inserts into apreformed pocket or receptacle in the placket and/or collar.

Although the prior art rigid planar inserts may help eliminate thetwisting and breaking of the collar and placket, they are not withoutproblems. For example, the rigid planar inserts can create an inflexibleand often uncomfortable shirt. In addition, the rigid planar inserts maybreak after repeated washing and ironing of the shirt and thereby reduceor eliminate the effectiveness. Still further the rigid planar insertsmay be cumbersome, difficult to insert and remove and may be lost ormisplaced.

Hence, a need exists in the art to provide a shirt or blouse that iscomfortable to wear and can be worn without a tie, without upperfastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region, or with theupper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region, such asone or more of the top buttons, unfastened and that reduces oreliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/orplacket. Moreover, a need exits in the art to provide a shirt or blousethat is comfortable to wear and can be worn without a tie, without upperfastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region, or with theupper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region, such asone or more of the top buttons, unfastened, that reduces or eliminatesthe unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/or placket and thatdoes not employ rigid planar reinforcing inserts in the placket.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shirtor blouse that is comfortable to wear, that can be worn without a tie,without upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region,or with the upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collarregion, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened and thatreduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collarand/or placket.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a shirtor blouse that is comfortable to wear, that can be worn without a tie,without upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region,or with the upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collarregion, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened, that reducesor eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/orplacket and that does not employ rigid planar reinforcing inserts in theplacket.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shirt orblouse that is comfortable to wear, that can be worn without a tie,without upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region,or with the upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collarregion, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened, that reducesor eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/orplacket and that is easy to manufacture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shirt orblouse that is comfortable to wear, that can be worn without a tie,without upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region,or with the upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collarregion, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened, that reducesor eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/orplacket and that can be repeatedly laundered, i.e., washed and/orironed, without affecting the integrity of the placket and collarstructure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objectives and others are obtained by the present invention,which is a shirt or blouse wherein the placket and/or collar comprise areinforced structure comprising: (i) one or more filaments, wires,cords, cables or strings; (ii) higher density material; or (iii) acombination of the forgoing.

In certain embodiments the reinforced structure is part of the shirtplacket, preferably both the left and right shirt placket. Thereinforced structure may be affixed to the placket or the reinforcedstructure may incorporated into the placket. In some embodiments, thereinforced structure may also extend from the placket into the collarand be affixed or incorporated into the collar as well as the placket.In some additional embodiments, the reinforced structure may also extendfrom the placket to the shirt yolk and be affixed or incorporated intothe shirt yolk as well as the shirt placket. In yet further embodiments,the reinforced structure may extend from the placket to the back, frontand/or side panels of the shirt and be affixed or incorporated into theback, front and/or side shirt panels and well as the shirt placket. Instill further embodiments the reinforced structure may extend from theplacket to the shirt sleeves and be affixed or incorporated into theshirt sleeves as well as the placket. In certain embodiments thereinforcing structure is may be part of the shirt placket, collar, yolk,back panel, front panel, side panel, shirt sleeves or a combination ofthe foregoing.

In certain embodiments, the filament, wire, cord, cable or string is ametal or plastic filament, wire, cord, cable or string that is affixedor incorporated in the shirt placket and extends to or into the shirtcollar and optionally to or into the shirt yolk. The reinforcedstructure may employ one of more filaments, wires, cords, cables orstrings to provide the desired strength and rigidity to the shirt collarand shirt placket but should not make the shirt uncomfortable andinflexible.

In certain embodiments, the higher density material is a padding,wadding, lining, filling, fabric or patch of material that is adheredto, formed into or incorporated into the placket and/or collar of theshirt or blouse. The higher density material may also optionally extendfrom the shirt placket to or into the shirt collar and optionally to andinto the shirt yolk. The higher density material of the presentinvention will have a density that is at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%,50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% greater than thedensity of fabric employed in the front, back or side panels of theshirt or the shirt sleeves. The higher density material can be obtainedby any method, such a creating a fabric that has additional or tighterweaving per unit area, denser threads, combination of multiple layers ofpadding, wadding, filling, fabric or any combination of the forgoing.The higher density material may also be prepared by spinning, weaving orcarding fibers to create a higher density material. The higher densitymaterial should exhibit a rigidity that is greater than the rigidity ofthe fabric employed in the front, back or side panels of the shirt orthe shirt sleeves but should not make the shirt uncomfortable andinflexible.

In certain embodiments the higher density material may be formed fromthe same material as the shirt fabric such as cotton only with a higherdensity than the shirt fabric such as created by a tighter weave orhigher thread count. Alternatively, the higher density material maycomprise a material that is different from the shirt fabric such as asynthetic material or the higher density material may comprise acombination of the material used to form the shirt fabric, i.e., cottonand a different material from that used to form the shirt fabric such asa synthetic material.

The objectives of the present invention may also be obtained bypreparing a shirt with or without the above described reinforcedstructure wherein the shirt engages (i) a garment worn over the shirtsuch as a suit jacket, sport coat or vest; (ii) a garment worn under theshirt such as a tee shirt or under shirt; or (iii) a combination of (i)and (ii) wherein the shirts engagement with the over and/or undergarment reduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of theshirt collar and/or placket when the shirt is worn without a tie,without upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region,or with the upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collarregion, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened. In certainembodiments, the engagement between the shirt and the over and/or undergarment produces or creates an enhanced interaction such as an increasefriction that will prevent the shirt collar and/or placket from beingdrawn under or into the over garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representative partial front elevation view of a shirt ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial front elevation view of the shirt of FIG.1 with the adjacent front panels unbuttoned and showing one embodimentof a reinforced structure of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial section view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial section view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial front elevation view of the shirt of FIG.1 with the adjacent front panels unbuttoned and showing one embodimentof a reinforced structure of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial section view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial section view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention with reference to FIGS. 1-7. FIGS. 1-7 are forillustration purposes only and are not to scale. The shirt illustratedin FIG. 1-7 is a typical men's dress shirt with a left 37 and right 35placket. It is understood that the same structure and design can beapplied to women's blouses as well as other types of collared shirtsincluding but not limited to shirts with button down collars, a singleplacket or shirts with covered or concealed plackets, polo shirts,zippered shirts, and active/athletic tops. It is also understood thatthe present invention is not limited to collared shirts and blouses thatemploy buttons as fastening means but is also applicable to collaredshirts and blouses that employs zippers, snaps, clips, hooks, studs orother fastening means as well as collared shirts that do not employ afastening means in the collar or neck region.

As used herein the term “button” unless specifically stated includesconventional fastening means such as buttons as well as other knownfastening means such as snaps, clips, hooks, studs etc.

As used herein the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes pluralreference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as usedherein the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

In certain embodiments, the shirt or blouse of the present invention isdesigned to be worn on the upper torso and may be tucked into anothergarment worn on the lower torso, such as pants, shorts, skirts, kilts,knickers or trousers. The shirt or blouse of the present invention maybe worn under other garments such as a coat, vest, sweater, suit coat,sport coat or jacket. The shirt or blouse of the present invention mayalso be worn over other garments such as tee shirts, undershirts, braetc. The shirt or blouse of the present invention may be worn with orwithout a tie. If worn without a tie, the shirt or blouse of the presentinvention may also be worn with one, two, three, four, or five of thetop buttons unfastened or when the fastening means is a zipper, with thezipper, unzipped 2 to 12 or more inches from the wearer's neck or collarregion. When the shirt or blouse of the present invention is wornwithout a tie and/or with one, two, three, four, or five of the topbuttons unfastened or zipper unzipped, or if the shirt or blouse doesnot have upper fastening means, the collar and placket should remain ina straight, substantially straight, untwisted or substantially untwistedorientation as the wearer engages in normal activities and movementssuch as walking, sitting or standing and especially when the shirt orblouse is worn under coat, vest, sweater, suit coat, sport coat orjacket. As used herein the terms straight, substantially straight,untwisted or substantially untwisted may be used interchangeably unlessexpressly indicated and refers a theoretical line defined by the outerlateral edge of the shirt placket, 37 a, 35 a and terminating at thecollar beginning of the collar 31. This theoretical line should linearor relatively linear, i.e., lacking a twist, bend or a complex curvesuch as an “S” or “C” shaped curve.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the present invention is a shirt 20 thatcomprises a pair of front or body panels 22, 24 and respective sleeves26, 28 and yolk 50. Shirt 20 also includes a collar 30, in a manner asis known, as well as a series of fastening means, preferably in the formof buttons 32 that can be inserted through button holes 34 in order toselectively join body panels 22, 24 together. Buttons 32 may be securedto shirt 20 at a placket such as a right or rear placket 35, whichtypically extends from the top to the bottom of body panel 22, in amanner as is known. Similarly, button holes 34 may formed in shirt 20 ata placket such as a left or front placket 37, which typically extendsfrom the top to the bottom of body panel 24, again in a manner as isknown.

FIG. 1 also shows a shirt 20 wherein the outer lateral edge of theplackets, 35 a and 37 a are in a substantially straight (no twists orcomplex curve) from the third and fourth button from the top of theshirt to the point 31 where the plackets 35 and 37 terminate and collar30 begins.

FIG. 2 illustrates the upper, central area of shirt 20, and specificallyshows a reinforced structure of the present invention wherein thereinforced structure comprises a plurality, i.e. two filaments, wires,cords, cables or strings 36 and 38 in the each right and left placket 35and 37. Alternatively, the reinforced structure may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings.The filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 36 and 38 are depicted inFIG. 2 in broken lines because the filaments, wires, cords, cables orstrings 36 and 38 are covered, i.e. incorporated into the right and leftplacket and would not be visible when the shirt or blouse is worn. Itshould be understood that filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 36and 38 are continuous or unbroken. The number of filaments, wires,cords, cables or strings employed in the present invention willdepending on the size, shape and rigidity of the filament, wire, cord,cable or string employed in the reinforced structure. The filament,wire, cord, cable or string may be a formed from a metal or plasticmaterial. In certain embodiments the filament, wire, cord, cable orstring should exhibit a rigidity or longitudinal strength such that whena 15 cm length of the filament, wire, cord, cable or string is heldperpendicular to table or desk top by the fingers of an individual, thefree end of the filament, wire, cord, cable or string (the end oppositethe desk or table top) will not deviate or bend more than 5°, 10°, 15°20°, or 30° from the 90° perpendicular.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of left placket 37 taken along line 3-3of FIG. 2 and depicts one embodiment wherein left placket 37 is formedby folding the shirt fabric and sewing the edges of the fabric S1 andS2. FIG. 3 also shows the filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 38incorporated into the placket 37. In an alternative embodiment thefilaments, wires, cords, cables or strings of the reinforced structuremay be affixed to the placket surface, preferably a surface that is notvisible when the shirt is worn.

The filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 36 and 38 may extendedfrom the bottom of the shirt plackets or any point in the shirt placketfrom the bottom of the placket to area of the third or fourth button orbutton hole from the top to the shirt up to the collar 30, i.e., about1-40 cm, preferably about 1-35 cm and most preferably about 1-30 cm fromthe top of the shirt or collar 30. The filaments, wires, cords, cablesor strings 36 and 38 may also extend into collar 30 and be part of thecollar 30 as shown in FIG. 4. In an alternative embodiment one or moreof the filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings may extend from thebottom of the right shirt placket 35 or any point in the right shirtplacket 35 from the bottom of the right shirt placket 35 to area of thethird or fourth button from the top to the shirt up to the collar 30,around the collar 30 and down the left shirt placket 37 to the bottom ofthe left shirt placket 37 or any point in the left shirt placket 37 fromthe bottom of the placket to area of the third or fourth button holefrom the top to the shirt, i.e., about 5-30 cm from the top of the shirtor collar 30. In another embodiment one or more of the filaments, wires,cords, cables or strings may extend from the bottom of the shirtplackets 35 and 37 or any point in the shirt placket from the bottom ofthe placket to area of the third or fourth button or button hole fromthe top to the shirt up to the collar 30 and into the yolk 50. Inanother embodiment one or more of the filaments, wires, cords, cables orstrings may extend from the bottom of the shirt plackets 35 and 37 orany point in the shirt placket from the bottom of the placket to area ofthe third or fourth button or button hole from the top to the shirt upto the collar 30 and into the back panels (not shown), front panels 22and 24 and/or side panels (not shown) of the shirt and/or the shirtsleeves 26 and 28. If the shirt or blouse does not have buttons but usesother fastening means, such as a zipper or no upper fastening means theone or more filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings may extend fromthe bottom of the shirt plackets 35 and 37 or any point in the shirtplacket from the bottom of the placket to an area near the top to theshirt, such as lcm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, 9 cm, 10cm, 11 cm, 12 cm, 13 cm, 14 cm, 15 cm, 16 cm, 17 cm, 18 cm, 19 cm, 20cm, 21 cm, 22 cm, 23 cm, 24 cm, 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, or 30cm from the collar 30 or up to the collar 30.

FIG. 5 illustrates the upper, central area of shirt 20, and shows areinforced structure of the present invention wherein the reinforcedstructure comprises a higher density material 80 and 82 that is adheredto, formed into or incorporated into the placket. In one embodiment thehigher density material is attached to the inner (surface closest towearer skin) or outer surface (surface opposite the inner and visible tothird parties) of the right and left plackets 35 and 37 by conventionalmeans such as sewing or adhesive. The higher density material 80 and 82may also be incorporated into the right or left placket 35 and 37 byfolding the shirt fabric around the higher density material as shown inFIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of left placket 37 wherein leftplacket 37 is formed by folding the shirt fabric and sewing the edges ofthe fabric S1 and S2 around the higher density material 82. The higherdensity material 80 and 82 may also optionally extend from the placketsto or into the collar 30 as shown in FIG. 7. The higher density material80 and 82 may also optionally extend from the placket and/or collar tothe shirt yolk 50, back panels (not shown), front panels 22 and 24and/or side panels (not shown) of the shirt and/or shirt sleeves 26 and28.

The higher density material of the present invention will have a densitythat is at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%,80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% greater than the density of fabric employed in thefront, back or side panels of the shirt or the shirt sleeves. The higherdensity material can be obtained by any method, such a creating a fabricthat has additional or tighter weaving per unit area, denser threads,combination of multiple layers of padding, wadding, filling, fabric orany combination of the forgoing. The higher density material may also beprepared by spinning, weaving or carding fibers to create a higherdensity material. The higher density material should exhibit a rigiditythat is greater than the rigidity of the fabric employed in the front,back or side panels of the shirt or the shirt sleeves but should notmake the shirt uncomfortable and inflexible.

In certain embodiments the higher density material may be formed fromthe same material as the shirt fabric such as cotton only in a higherdensity than the shirt fabric. Alternatively, the higher densitymaterial may comprise a material that is different from the shirt fabricsuch as a synthetic material or the higher density material may comprisea combination of the material used to form the shirt fabric, i.e.,cotton and a different material from that used to form the shirt fabricsuch as a synthetic material. Synthetic materials that may be used toform the higher density material include but are not limited topolyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester and combinations thereof.Natural materials that maybe used to form the higher density materialinclude but are not limited to cotton, wool, cellulosic material andplant materials such as bamboo.

If the higher density material is attached to the outer or inner surfaceof the right and/or left placket, the higher density material may havethe same color, design or pattern as the shirt fabric so the highdensity material matches the shirt fabric design. Alternatively thehigher density material may have a different color, design or patternfrom the shirt fabric so the high density material contrasts,compliments or coordinates with the shirt fabric design.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the reinforced structurewill comprise a combination of the filaments, wires, cords, cables orstrings described previously and the higher density material.

The placket of the present invention that comprise the reinforcedstructure comprising: (i) one or more filaments, wires, cords, cables orstrings; (ii) higher density material; or (iii) a combination of theforgoing should exhibit a rigidity or longitudinal strength such thatwhen a 15 cm length of the placket comprising the reinforced structureis held perpendicular to table or desk top by the fingers of anindividual, the free end of the placket (the end opposite the desk ortable top) will not deviate or bend more than 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, 5°, 6°,7°, 8°, 9°, 10°, 11°, 12°, 13°, 14°, 15°, 16°, 17°, 18°, 19°, 20°, 21°,22°, 23°, 24°, 25°, 26°, 27°, 28°, 29°, or 30° from the 90°perpendicular.

The shirt and blouses of the present invention may further comprise theplanar stiffeners described in the prior art such Japanese PatentApplication Publication Nos. 2007092208; 2009024266 and 2018188778, U.S.Pat. Nos. 9,204,671, 9,622,512 and 8,001,619 which are incorporatedherein by reference.

The present invention also includes a shirt with or without the abovedescribed reinforced structures wherein the shirt engages (i) a garmentworn over the shirt such as a suit jacket, sport coat or vest; (ii) agarment worn under the shirt such as a tee shirt or under shirt; or(iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) wherein the shirt's engagement withthe over and/or under garment reduces or eliminates the unwantedtwisting or breaking of the shirt collar and/or placket when the shirtis worn without a tie or with the upper fastening means near thewearer's neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons,unfastened.

In certain embodiments of this aspect of the present invention, theengagement between the shirt and the over and/or under garment producesor creates an enhanced interaction or increase friction that willprevent the shirt collar and/or placket from being drawn under or intothe over garment. The enhanced interaction may be created by applicationof an adhesive or tacking substance to the inner surface of the garmentworn over the shirt or the outer surface of the garment worn under theshirt. The enhanced interaction may also be created by incorporating aresistance or friction creating substance or material to the innersurface of the garment worn over the shirt or the outer surface of thegarment worn under the shirt. Examples of a resistance or frictioncreating substance or material that may be used include but are notlimited to natural and synthetic rubber, or a rough or course weavefabric which may be in the form of one or more patches, tabs or stripsthat permanently or removably applied to the inner surface of thegarment worn over the shirt or the outer surface of the garment wornunder the shirt. Alternatively the resistance or friction creatingsubstance or material is in the form of a thread or yarn that is woveninto the inner fabric lining of the garment worn over the shirt or intothe outer fabric lining of the garment worn under the shirt.

The adhesive substance, tacking substance, resistance substance orfriction substance is preferably added or incorporated into the innersurface of the garment worn over the shirt or the outer surface of thegarment worn under the shirt in the areas that contact the front panelsand/or sleeves of shirt and should not be seen or visible to a personviewing the individual wearing the embodiments of the present invention.The adhesive substance, tacking substance, resistance substance orfriction substance may also be incorporated into the front panel, sidepanel and/or back panel of the shirt.

The enhanced interaction created by the adhesive substance, tackingsubstance, resistance substance or friction substance should allow thewearer of the embodiments of the present invention to move freely andeasily remove the garment worn over the shirt and the shirt. Inaddition, the adhesive substance, tacking substance, resistancesubstance or friction substance should not create or produce any stainsor marks on the shirt.

The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practicedin the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitationswhich is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in eachinstance herein any of the terms “comprising,” “consisting essentiallyof and “consisting of may be replaced with either of the other twoterms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used asterms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention inthe use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents ofthe features shown and described or portions thereof, but it isrecognized that various modifications are possible within the scope ofthe invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although thepresent invention has been specifically disclosed by preferredembodiments and optional features, modification and variation of theconcepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in theart, and that such modifications and variations are considered to bewithin the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A shirt or blouse comprising a pair of body panels, a pair of sleeves, a yolk, a collar, at least one placket wherein placket comprises a reinforced structure comprising: (i) one or more filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings; (ii) higher density material; or (iii) a combination of the forgoing of (i) and (ii).
 2. The shirt or blouse of claim 1 comprising two plackets wherein each placket comprises a reinforced structure comprising: (i) one or more filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings; (ii) higher density material; or (iii) a combination of the forgoing of (i) and (ii).
 3. The shirt or blouse of claim 1 wherein the reinforced structure is part of the collar.
 4. The shirt or blouse of claim 1 wherein the reinforced structure is part of the collar, yolk, back panel of the shirt, front panel of the shirt, side panel of the shirt, shirt sleeve or any combination thereof.
 5. A system for stabilizing a shirt placket and or shirt collar when the shirt is worn without a tie, without upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region, or with upper fastening means near the wearer's neck or collar region, such as one or more buttons, unfastened comprising a shirt and (i) a garment worn over the shirt; (ii) a garment worn under the shirt; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) wherein the garment worn over the shirt and/or the garment worn under the shirt comprises an adhesive substance, a tacking substance, a resistance substance or a friction substance that engages the shirt and prevents twisting or breaking of the shirt collar and/or placket. 